Sydney’s most crowded classrooms revealed

The schools with Greater Sydney’s most crowded classrooms have been revealed with new data on student-teacher ratios. See if your school makes the list.

New data shows the schools with the most students per teacher.

The schools with Greater Sydney’s most crowded classrooms have been revealed.

An analysis of national data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority has revealed the schools where teachers have the most students in their classes.

The figures show in 2023 in the Greater Sydney region there were more students per teacher at Santa Sophia Catholic College at Gables (primary) than any other school.

According to the 2023 data – the most up to date that includes all state and private schools nationally – Santa Sophia Catholic College (primary) had 28.1 students for every teacher, the highest in the area.

It had 851 students enrolled and 30 full-time equivalent teachers.

The second highest student-teacher ratios were at Mary Immaculate Catholic Primary School at Eagle Vale where there was an average of 21.4 students for every teacher at the school. It had 530 students enrolled and 24 full-time equivalent teachers.

At Al-Faisal College – Liverpool there were 20.6 students for every teacher, the Greater Sydney region’s third highest.

Aron and Fiadh Gildernew attend Santa Sophia Catholic College, which has a high student-teacher ratio and is the state's fastest growing school. Picture: Julian Andrews

It had 1282 students enrolled and 62 full-time equivalent teachers.

According to ACARA the national average student teacher ratio in 2023 was 12.6 students for every teacher, a drop from the 13.3 ratio in 2021.

At a primary school level it is sitting at 13.6 and in secondary it’s 11.8.

Catholic schools have the highest national ratio for primary schools with a 14.1 ratio, followed by 13.5 for government schools and 12 for independent schools.

Catholic schools also have the highest national ratio for secondary schools with 12 students for every teacher, followed by 11.9 for state schools and 11.5 for Independent schools.

Meanwhile, the Greater Sydney region’s least crowded classroom was at Sydney Distance Education High School where there was an average of 3.5 students for every teacher at the school.

It had 531 students enrolled and 152 full-time equivalent teachers.

Student-teacher ratios do not take into account teacher aides or non-teaching staff at schools, only the full-time equivalent teachers.

Al Faisal College, Campbelltown.

Schools with the highest student to teacher ratio in Greater Sydney:

• Santa Sophia Catholic College (Primary): 28.1 students per teacher

• Mary Immaculate Catholic Primary School: 21.4 students per teacher

• Al-Faisal College – Liverpool: 20.6 students per teacher

• Al-Faisal College – Campbelltown: 20.4 students per teacher

• Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Ingleburn: 20.3 students per teacher

• Rissalah College, Lakemba: 20.3 students per teacher

• Riverbank Public School, The Ponds: 20.1 students per teacher

• St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Mortlake: 20.1 students per teacher

• Ironbark Ridge Public School, Rouse Hill: 20.1 students per teacher

• Al Hikma College, Lakemba: 20.1 students per teacher